Ask Congress for a Green Stimulus Package

The folks over at the 1Sky Blog have a good post up on the stimulus package: Tell Congress: we want a green economic stimulus bill! It includes an online petition demanding a green stimulus package, certainly a better idea than a simple rebate check as I've noted below.

Note to Congress: Don't Blow Stimulus Funds on Rebates

The heady talk in Washington about a $150 billion stimulus package has everyone from the President on down salivating over the political benefits such a gift would generate. But they'd be wise to consider how those funds could be put to real use-- not as a one-time gift to taxpayers that is quickly thrown away on Chinese imports, but as a real stimulus package that not only boosts economic activity but creates jobs, improves national security, and helps the environment. What could do all that? It's simple: design a package of incentives/rebates that support alternative energy investment and rollout, reward homeowners who invest in efficiency upgrades, and solidifies the basis for existing alternative technologies like solar and wind energy.

Rather than blow the funds on a one-shot deal that is unlikely to have any impact beyond the resulting spending ripple in the economy, let's invest the funds in policies that will make us stronger going forward. Energy incentives targeted at consumers will steer spending toward new and growing industries (like wind and solar) that could use the boost-- and will create jobs that last well beyond this recession.

New Hampshire: Clinton Embraces "Change" and Wins

"READY FOR CHANGE" signs were everywhere at the Clinton rally in New Hampshire Tuesday night-- if nothing else, the Clinton machine is adept at reading the polls and staying on message. It looks like Hillary will win New Hampshire by a significant margin, though several college towns are not yet in and we know from Iowa that younger voters are going for Obama by a large margin. Iowa also showed us that while women favor Hillary, her margin among female voters was only about 10%-- certainly not enough to offset Obama's appeal to the young.

I maintain the position that Hillary Clinton is no progressive-- not even really a liberal --and that she represents not only a return to the failed policies of the 1990s but a major threat to the hope of a Democratic victory due to her astoundingly high negatives. McCain would trounce her among independents.

The real disappointment of New Hampshire has to be for Edwards, who was looking to move up closer to #2 but ended a distant third. He'll have to rally by Super Tuesday or he'll be done. Hopefully his progressive message will take hold and the eventual nominee will be pulled at least a bit to the left.

Iowa Results: Young Voters Turn Out for Change and Clinton Falls Hard

Heavy Democratic turnout in Iowa, especially among younger voters, has sent a clear message: the media's proclamation of a Clinton victory was not well received. In fact, she came in third. Turnout among voters under 45 is typically low in the Iowa caucuses; this time around turnout for that age group was several times higher than in 2004 and these younger voters generally picked Obama or Edwards over Clinton. Moreover, participation by really young voters (i.e. 18-29) in the Democratic caucuses more than doubled between 2000 and 2008; their demographic made up 1/5th of all caucus goers in 2008. That's 20% folks.

Why is the youth vote news? Because it's usually ignored by the media ("young people don't vote") or portrayed as a block concerned only about tuition costs and what type of underwear the candidates favor. But realize this: young voters may well decide the next election. In aggregate more votes were cast by the 18-29 demographic in 2004 than by the over-65 group...and guess which group is growing more rapidly? An excellent outline of why the youth vote matters from Future Majority provides the details. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy the fact that young voters participated in the Democratic caucuses last night at twice the level of their Republican peers-- a good sign for November to be sure.

All eyes on New Hampshire now, though we'll be heading out to caucus here in Minnesota in less than a month. I'll be looking forward to seeing how the campaigns address young voters-- and wondering if they will recognize that less than a quarter of them are actually college students.